Mounting bracket for venetian blinds



Jan. 4, 1955 Mjc. RUTLEDGE MOUNTING BRACKET FOR VENETIAN BLINDS FiledDec. 3, 1951 JNVNTOR. 50 MELVIN C. Run/506E BY Mwvu/ E AGE/VT UnitedStates Patent "ice MOUNTING BRACKET FUR VENETIAN BLINDS Melvin C.Rutledge, Riverside, Califi, assignor to Hunter Douglas (Corporation,Riverside, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application December 3,1951, Serial N 0. 259,669

7 Qlainis. (Ql. 248-264) This invention relates generally to means forsupporting Venetian blinds and more particularly to means for supportingVenetian blind headrails which are U-shaped and provided with inwardlyrolled upper edges. Headrails of this character are usually referred toas box or channeltype, and have proved to be very satisfactory.

The conditions encountered in mounting Venetian blinds vary considerablyand it is a major object of this invention to provide a mounting bracketwhich will meet substantially all conditions encountered and which isadapted to be fastened to either horizontal or vertical frame members asdesired.

A further object of the invention is to provide mounting means which canbe installed in place on the appropriate frame member of the aperturebeing closed and to which the headrail can then be readily attached bymerely slipping it into place and latching it in position. This permitsa Wide latitude in mounting the Venetian blinds since the headrail canbe mounted in corners, behind cornices, facias, etc.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple mountingbracket that can be placed at any desired position relative to theheadrail to support the same at various points along its length.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a universalmounting bracket that not only facilitates operating in otherwiseinaccessible locations, but which also provides a very rigid and securemounting for the blind and at the same time can be readily unlatched topermit removal of the blind without any trouble.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomereadily apparent from the following specification and the attacheddrawing, in which:

Fig. l is a utility view in perspective showing a channeltype Venetianblind headrail supported by three of the brackets of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. l but with thelatch member in unlatched position and showing in phantom lines theinitial step in mounting the headrail on the bracket;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the latch member in latchingposition;

Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective View of the bracket showing thelatching member separate from the support member;

Fig. 5 is a partial section taken on the line 5-5 of Fi 2;

Tig. 6 is a perspective view of the forward end of the latchingmechanism in latched position; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical partial section taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6and showing in phantom lines the unlatched position of the latchingmember.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, thenumeral 10 indicates generally a conventional channel-type metalheadrail having a bottom wall 11, a front wall 12 and a rear wall 13,the upper edges of the front and rear walls being rolled inwardly forincreased stiffness as indicated by the numerals 12a and 13a,respectively. A plurality of Venetian blind slats illustrated by theslat 14 are tiltably supported by ladder tapes 15 in conventionalmanner. The mounting brackets, illustrated with screws for securing themto the underside of a horizontal member, are indicated generally by thenumeral 20.

Referring now to the exploded view in Fig. 4 for the structural elementsof the bracket 20, it is seen that the bracket is preferably formed oftwo separate stampings to-wit: a main supporting member 21 ofsubstantial L- 2,698,727 Patented Jan. 4, 1955 holes 25 for thereception of screws or the like so that either of the legs can befastened to a supporting frame member. The lower end of the vertical leg23 is provided with inwardly extending horizontal means in the form of alug 26 and the forward end of the upper leg 24 is provided withforwardly extending keeper fingers 27. Between the keeper fingers 27 thecentral portion of the horizontal leg 24 is bent downwardly and curvedupwardly to provide an underslung supporting lip 28 shaped to fit underthe forward rolled edge of the headrail.

The latch member 22 comprises parallel side plates 29 and 30 joined atone end by transverse means such as a latch bar 31 having a slighlydepressed center section terminating in a downturned flange 32. The rearends of the side plates 29 and 30 are not connected but are notched toprovide rearwardly extending latching fingers 33 adapted to slide underthe rolled edge of the rear side wall of the headrail. The side plates29 and 30 are also provided with instruck tabs 34 which are looselyreceived in horizontal slots 36 provided in the side flanges of thechannel-shaped horizontal support leg 24. The latch member 22 is mountedon the horizontal leg 24 by spreading the side plates 29 and 39 Whilepositioning the tabs 34 opposite their respective slot 36 and thenreleasing the plates 29 and 30 to permit the tabs to seat in said slotsfor sliding movement therein. The resilience of the latch members keepstabs 34 engaged in their respective slot 36.

Referring now to Fig. 2, it will be seen that in the form illustratedthe support member 21 is mounted from above with its legs 23 and 24 invertical and horizontal positions respectively. The latch member 22 isin retracted or unlatched position, i. e., its most forward position,with the flange 32 spaced outwardly beyond the ends of the keeperfingers 27 and its rearwardly extending latch fingers 33 in retractedposition. The latch can be maintained in this position by allowing thelatch bar 31 to rest on the outer ends of the keeper fingers 27 or ifdesired, the latch member can be dropped to permit the latch bar 31 torest loosely on the forwardly extending supporting lip 28.

With the latch member positioned as just described, the headrail 10 ismounted by first hooking the upper rolled edge 12a of the forward wall12 in the forwardly extending curved supporting lips 28 of the bracketsto which the headrail is being mounted. This position of the headrail isshown in phantom lines in Fig. 2 with the headrail angularly disposedwith respect to the bracket.

The headrail is then rotated rearwardly as indicated by the arrow inFig. 2 to a position where the rolled edge 13a of the rear wall 13 ispositioned up against the under face of the horizontal leg 24, the wall13 abuts the edges of vertical leg 23, and the juncture of the headrailbottom wall and rear wall is seated on the forwardly extendinghorizontal lug 26. This operation is relatively easy to perform sincethe lug 26 provides a temporary rest or positioning support for theheadrail. It will be noted from Fig. 2 that in this position, thelatching fingers 33 of the latch member 22 are positioned forwardly ofthe rolled edge 13a. During this mounting operation, the latch bar 31 isdisplaced from its initial position and the forward ends of the latchside plates 29 and 30 are resting on the upper face of the rolled edge12a.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the latch member 22 hasbeen moved rearwardly (to the left as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3),thus moving the latch fingers 33 rearwardly to a position underneath therear edge roll 13a to support and confine the same. It will be notedthat the side flanges of horizontal support leg 24 are recessed at theirrear ends adjacent the vertical leg 23 to provide. with the adjacentwall of the vertical leg, notches 37 just slightly larger than thehorizontal width of the rear edge roll 1311. Thus when the headrail isrotated to assembled position, the edge roll 13a will be seated in thenotch 37, as best seen in Fig. 2. The size of the notch 37 is such as topreclude any substantial horizontal motion of headrail when in assembledbut unlatched position.

Referring now to Fig. 3, it will be noted that the rear wall of thenotches in the side plates 29 and 30, which were cut away to form thelatching fingers 33, substantially abut the inner face of the edge roll13:: and are in substantial alignment with the forward wall of the notch37. As a result of this arrangement, the edge roll 13:: is securelylocked in position, being substantially confined on four sides with itsweight being carried by the fingers 33.

it will be noted that the forward ends of the keeper fingers 27 onbracket leg 24 have their under faces beveled. The dimensions of theparts are such that when the latch member 22 is resting on the forwardedge roll 12a of the headrail, the upper face of the latch bar 31 ispositioned at an elevation just below the beveled ends of fingers 27.Thus when the latch is pushed rearwardly, the latch bar 31 engages thebeveled under faces of fingers 27 and slides downwardly and rearwardlytherealong to a position beneath the main body portion of the fingers 27where it is securely held against the upper face of the edge roll 12a,thus confining and locking said edge roll against the lower supportinglip 28.

A small dimple 40 provides a button on the under face of latch bar 31 toprovide a frictional snap lock to hold the latch in its latchedposition, with the downturned flange 32 engaging the upper edge of theforward wall 12.

It will thus be seen that in the latched position illustrated in Fig. 3,the headrail is securely held by locking both edge rolls against bothvertical and horizontal movement. In this position, the lug 26 may ormay not be carrying any of the weight of the headrail and usually isnot, since the fingers 33 are proportioned to normally engage the loweredge of the roll 13a and push it up snugly into engagement with thewalls of the notch 37.

When it is desired to remove the headrail from the brackets, the latch22 is pulled forwardly to retracted position by the simple expedient ofinserting a screw driver or similar tool between the flange 32 and thefront wall 12 of the headrail to disengage the button 40 and permit easyretraction of the latching member. With the latch withdrawn, theheadrail can be removed by reversing the series of operations previouslydescribed.

While the presently preferred form of the invention illustrated hereinis fully capable of achieving the objects and advantages herein setforth, it will be understood that various modifications of the inventioncan be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blindheadrail having inwardly rolled upper edges which includes: an angularsupporting member having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg extendingfrom the upper end thereof provided with lip means on its forward endfor receiving and supporting the forward of said rolled edges and arecessed portion at its rearward end adjacent said vertical leg toreceive the rearward of said rolled edges; and a latch member slidablymounted on said horizontal leg having finger means on its rearward endadapted to slide under and support said rearward rolled edge in saidrecess, and latching means cooperating with other means on the forwardend of said horizontal leg engaging and confining said forward rollededge in said lip means.

2. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blindheadrail having walls with inwardly rolled upper edges which includes:an angular supporting member having a vertical leg and a horizontal legextending outwardly from the upper end thereof, said horizontal leghaving at its forward end an underslung supporting lip adapted toreceive a rolled edge of said headrail and a keeper finger spaced abovesaid lip and adapted to overlie said rolled edge received thereby; alatch member mounted on said horizontal leg for slidable longitudinalmovement thereof having a latch finger on its rear end and latch meanson its forward end; and means connecting said members so that uponrearward movement of said latch member said latch means slides undersaid keeper finger to engage a rolled edge received in said supportinglip and said latch finger moves to a position under the other of saidrolled edges to support the same in the angle of said supporting member.

3. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blindheadrail having walls with inwardly rolled upper edges which includes:an angular supporting member having a vertical leg and a horizontal legextending outwardly from the upper end thereof, said horizontal leghaving at its forward end an upwardly curved supporting lip adapted toreceive a rolled edge of said headrail and a pair of parallel keeperfingers spaced above said lip and adapted to overlie said rolled edgereceived thereby, the underface of said horizontal leg adjacent itsjuncture with said vertical leg being recessed to accommodate the otherof said rolled edge and substantially prevent horizontal movementthereof; a latch member mounted on said horizontal leg for slidablelongitudinal movement thereof and having a latch means on its rear endadapted to cooperate with said recess and a latch bar on its forwardend; and means connecting said members so that upon rearward movement ofsaid latch member said latch bar slides under said keeper fingers toengage a rolled edge received in said supporting lip and said latchmeans moves to a position engaging the other of said rolled edges tosupport the same in the angle of said supporting member.

4. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blindheadrail having walls with inwardly rolled upper edges which includes:an angular supporting member having a vertical leg and a horizontal legextending outwardly from the upper end thereof, said horizontal leghaving at its forward end a portion shaped to receive and support arolled edge of said headrail and a pair of parallel keeper fingersspaced above said portion and adapted to engage said rolled edgereceived thereby; a bifurcated latch member comprising a pair ofparallel plates adapted to fit over and engage the sides of saidhorizontal leg for slidable longitudinal movement thereof each platehaving a latch finger on its rear end, and a latch bar joining theforward ends of said parallel plates; and means connecting said membersso that upon rearward movement of said latch member said latch bar movesunder said keeper fingers to engage a rolled edge received in saidsupporting portion of said horizontal leg and said latch fingers move toa position under the other of said rolled edgesbto support the same inthe angle of said supporting mem er.

5. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blindheadrail having walls with inwardly rolled upper edges which includes:an angular supporting member having a vertical leg and a horizontal legextending outwardly from the upper end thereof, said horizontal leghaving at its forward end a supporting portion adapted to receive arolled edge of said headrail and a pair of parallel keeper fingersspaced above said portion to overlie said rolled edge received thereby,said vertical leg having an angular lug extending inwardly from itslower end adapted to receive and support the lower rear edge of saidheadrail during mounting; a latch member mounted on said horizontal legfor slidable longitudinal movement thereof having a latch finger on itsrear end and latch means on its forward end; and means connecting saidmembers so that upon rearward movement of said latch member said latchmeans cooperates with said keeper fingers to engage a rolled edgereceived in said supporting portion and said latch finger moves to aposition to support the other of said rolled edges in the angle of saidsupporting member.

6. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blindheadrail having walls with inwardly rolled upper edges which includes:an angular supporting member having a vertical leg and a horizontal legextending outwardly from the upper end thereof, said horizontal leghaving at its forward end an underslung supporting lip adapted toreceive a rolled edge of said headrail and a pair of parallel keepersspaced above said lip and adapted to overlie said rolled edge receivedthereby, said vertical leg having an angular lug extending inwardlytherefrom adapted to receive and support the lower rear edge of saidheadrail during mounting; a bifurcated latch member comprising a pair ofparallel plates adapted to fit over and engage the sides of saidhorizontal leg mounted on said horizontal leg for slidable longitudinalmovement thereof and having latch fingers on its rear end and a latchbar on its forward end joining said parallel plates; and meansconnecting said members so that upon rearward movement of said latchmember said latch bar moves under said keepers to engage a rolled edgereceived in said supporting lip and said latch fingers move to aposition under the other of said rolled edges to support the same in theangle of said supporting member.

7. A mounting bracket for supporting a channel-type Venetian blindheadrail having laterally spaced, inwardly rolled upper edges, saidbracket comprising an angular supporting member having a vertical legand a horizontal leg extending outwardly from the upper end thereof, atleast one of said legs being provided with screw holes, a lip on theouter end of said horizontal leg projecting down into said headrail andprojecting under the forward of said rolled edges to support the same,and a latch member UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,884,414 Vroom Oct. 25, 19322,255,326 Mintz Sept. 9, 1941 2,267,160 McKerlie Dec. 23, 1941 2,454,550Burns Nov. 23, 1948

